Portsmouth dog spared death after killing dog

Tyson the bull dog gets to live.
A panel spared his
life, Monday.
The dog was on death row after he attacked and killed a
neighbor's dog.

"I wrestled with the dog. He kept circling around, and he
wouldn't leave and I'm screaming at the top of my lungs trying to protect my dog's
body," Caroline Miller told a panel about the night she was
walking her Lhaso Apso, Oscar, in Portsmouth when he was viciously attacked by her
neighbor's dog.

"I felt so powerless. I leaped on the dog's back, and
pulled his ear as hard as I could," said Miller, "I bit the dog.

The panel of three, charged with deciding Tyson the bull
dog's fate, ultimately spared his life. He didn't get off scot free.
Tyson's owners now have to get vicious dog insurance, put a
sign in their yard, and leash and muzzle him every time he leaves the house.

"There will never be any door opened until Tyson is in
his kennel, because we never want him escaping again," said owner Theresa Young.

Young said Tyson darted out of the house as she was
putting on his leash.
She said he's never had a problem with other dogs until
Oscar.

"I'm just so sorry about her dog, you know, she had him for a
long time, and it's just horrible that he died," said Young, "Horrible."

There are no hard feelings between the two dogs' owners. In fact, there was nothing but tears and hugs at Portsmouth Town Hall as the verdict came down.
Even though Miller lost her best friend, 14 year old Oscar, she never wanted Tyson to die too.

"It's a lose, lose situation," said Miller, "I see no purpose of two dogs
losing their lives."

Tyson still isn't back with his owners.
They, first, have to prove they meet all the panel's
requirements.
If Tyson does act up again, his owner will be fined and
could face criminal charges.